It's Fall Ya'll

I know it's been a while since I posted last, so sorry, but sometimes life has to take first place.

Don't know about you guys but I'm feeling super energized by the cooler weather!  Plus, it's
absolutely my favorite time of year!  Time to switch gears for Fall decorating.  It doesn't
take a lot of money or time.  Let me show me my simple decorations that I threw together
in a little over an hour!

Below is a picture of my focal wall in my kitchen.  The wall metal hanger I found at Good
Will for $1.00.

 I love hangers that mount flush to the wall.

Next, is a picture of our back door that leads into our kitchen from the garage.  All of my family and

friends come to our back door when visiting.  I think everyone's back door should really be called

the "welcome door", don't you? It deserves a little extra attention, because it is such an important

area of our lives.  It's where we greet the ones we love!

 I love this screen that I found at a flea market.  I think this display looks as if someone has
just gathered their harvest.

Do you see my little friend sitting on the top on my display?  Don't mind telling you I won't
be upset to say good-bye to him or her whatever the case may be!!  I started to edit it out,
but it really just documents the changing of the seasons from Summer to Fall.  Se' La' Vi'
my little friend!!

't 

Now, just so I don't neglect the folks that don't know us so well, that actually knock

on our front door, I added a few Fall touches there, also.  Nothing over the top, just

a touch. I may add a wreath to the door, too.  If I do, I will add another picture later.

I love the green gourd.  It looks like a bird feeding on the corn!

And a small touch of Fall under my favorite Oak tree.  Don't forget our fine feathered friends!

Add a plate of bird seeds.  These guys bring so much joy to our lives through their music.

They deserve a little treat now and then!

So see, it doesn't take a huge amount of things to add a touch of Fall!  It's Time Has Come for 

everyone to get in the spirit of the cooler season.  Add a bit of Fall color to your life!

XOXOXOXO

Sandra

Summer Tomatoes of 2013

It's time to preserve our Summer tomato harvest of 2013.  You know the ONLY
bad thing about home grown tomatoes is that they all become ripe close to the same
time. You go from waiting and watching the young green marbles grow and grow into
beautiful, big, solid green tomatoes and then suddenly they are all turning red at
the same time.

Don't get me wrong, my family and I can eat ripe tomatoes with the best of them
but even after sharing our harvest with others, we still have plenty left over.
So the way to keep from losing them is to preserve them!

Let me show you how.  If you read my post on preserving fresh corn some of these steps
will seem familiar, because the concept is basically the same with a few different
techniques thrown it.  So here we go.... I promise I will try and keep this as simple
as possible because I really want you to try this.  You won't regret the effort,
especially this Winter when you are making homemade chili, stews, or other recipes
that call for tomatoes.  The freshness of the homegrown puree and tomato chunks
make all the difference in the world in the flavor of your recipes.

So, let me walk you through my first batch.

Prepare several freezer bags, label and date.  Start a large pot of water to boil.

I always use my trusty spaghetti pan.  Wash several tomatoes and cut a X mark

with a knife into the bottom of each one.  This is a very important step because it

speeds up the process.

Put several tomatoes into the boiling water.  Leave them in until you see the skins of the
tomatoes "crack".  Then remove them.

Here is how they will look.  This doesn't take very long, because you scored the bottom

of them.

Place the tomatoes in cold water or if you prefer an ice bath.  I have found that an ice
bath is not necessary, cold water works just as well.  Be sure that you dump the water
when it becomes warm and refill with cold water as needed.

 After the tomatoes have cooled off, transfer them to a large bowl and remove the skins.
You need to be sure and capture all the juice so be sure your task bowl is plenty large.

 After you have removed the skin, take a pair of scissors and cut out the top core.
Then cut the entire tomato into bite size chunks.  Do this all in this one bowl to be sure
and capture the juice, too!

Here is a shot of the assembly line that will keep you organized as you work on your
batches.  Boiling pot, cold water baths, skinning and chopped bowl.

Now you're ready to bag.  When bagging keep in mind the amount of tomatoes that come

in a large can of diced tomatoes.  This is usually around two cups, so I use a two cup

size measuring cup.  The freezer bag should be half to three quarters full.  Never fill it

all the way up, because you need room to squeeze out the excess air before sealing.

It's kind'a like preparing to go out on the town in too tight jeans!  Don't do it...always allow

a little extra room or you'll regret it!! ...... Sorry, got off track there for a minute....

See below, the bag needs extra empty space so the puree has room to settle flat.

Isn't it beautiful?  Liquid sunshine....I'm telling you!!

Be sure and  stack them flat in your freezer so they will freeze even.  

That's all there is to it! See, so simple!  I can't wait until Winter time to add

these to all kinds of comfort food recipes!  Yum! Yum!

"It's Time Has Come" for you to not be afraid to try your hand at preserving food.

 It is becoming a lost art and it is really not that difficult!  I hope you try this!  If

do and have any questions, just leave me a comment below and I will answer you.

Now I'm off to put my little jewels to bed  in the freezer.  I hope I have the patience

to save them until Winter.

                                                       XOXOXOXO

                                                              Sandra

Vintage Buttons

I have had some vintage white buttons that I've been hanging onto for
some time for a craft project.  So today, I had an idea come to me
and was able to put them to good use.

I am SLOWLY making an office/guest room and plan to have an all
white/antique white theme.  Every time I see a room with this color scheme,
it appears to be so tranquil and beautiful to me.

So, this is how I used my vintage buttons.

I hot glued them to the light switch plate of the room.  Let me point out that this is an
adult ONLY project.  The hot glue will occasionally push up through the holes in the
buttons!  To prevent getting burned use a ice cream stick or some tool to press the
buttons down without having to use your fingers.

I think it turned out so pretty.  Remember, not all projects have to be enormous
changes.  The small details of decorating can make all the difference in the
world!!  I now love this light switch plate because "It's Time Has Come" to be
a Vintage display in the room!

                                                    XOXOXOXO
                                                       Sandra

Old Finds

I was cleaning up some of my pictures stored on my computer today and came across
some interesting things.  It was paintings that I created several years ago on of all things
"Paint" on my computer.  They look quite abstract which is so far from my style, but I
have actually seen some vintage spaces that have abstracts mixed in and they look amazing.

I find it really keeps your creative juices moving if you sometimes step outside of your
comfort zone.  You never know what you might come up with.

Here is the first of my paintings.  I named each one.

This one is called "Africa".  I imagined this Mother walking back home from the market
with her baby. The background looks like buildings with the Sun beginning to dip down
for the day.  I used "hot" colors to give the illusion of the heat.

I may send this to have it printed out on a large poster board just to see how it will look.


This next one is a picture of my mind's eye of when I was young, walking through the woods.
It is a natural briar fence with all the tangled branches!  And why is it that there was always
the most beautiful green pasture behind these, yet this natural fence kept us from entering?

I named it "Tangles".

Next, portrays my life long love of flowers. I don't know about you but I can never doodle
or paint without ending up having a flower in the mix.  I think the gift of flowers is where
God wanted to show off a bit.... and boy He did not disappoint!!!!

I call this painting "Precious One".

And last but not least a painting of a pear.  I have always wanted a giant picture of a pear
in my kitchen.  Don't know why but I have...so I may have to have this one made into a
poster, too.

I just call it "Pear".

So, I hope you enjoyed my whimsical post tonight!

                                                          XOXOXOXO
                                                                Sandra

Okra Salad

Here is the recipe that I promised to post that involves fresh, okra and summer tomatoes.

Trust me, when I say that this will become a recipe that you look forward to each

Summer.  It is very basic, but SOOOOO delicious!!!  Best of all, it is very easy.

So let's get started:

Ingredients:

Chilled presentation dish

Home grown tomatoes

Red Onion

Okra

Yellow Cornmeal

Hot Oil
Salt

The first step is one of the most important step.

The very first thing that I do is chill a presentation dish or bowl in the refrigerator.

Have you ever had a salad when eating out that came to your table in a chilled bowl?
It makes for a much more enjoyable salad, don't you think?  This is the same concept
with this dish.

Next, dice a couple of tomatoes or more if making this for a large group.  Use your

judgement on the amount.  There is no exact science on the measurement of this

recipe.  Just create the amount based on the number of people you are feeding.

Also, dice a red onion.  Layer the diced onion on the bottom of the "chilled"

dish (I like to use a glass pie dish) and then top with the diced tomatoes.

Put the dish back into the refrigerator.

Next, prep your okra and coat with "yellow cornmeal".

Heat your oil.  It is important that the oil be hot!  Use a test piece of okra first.

Once your oil is hot, add the rest of the okra and fry it until, it is quite brown.

My family prefers it on the browner side.

Once the okra is quite brown, transfer it to a plate lined with paper towel to drain.

Then, while the okra is still hot, layer it over the chilled tomatoes and onions.

Serve immediately, while the okra is still hot!

I have two tips that MAKE this dish. 

1.)  The okra needs quite a bit of salt to contrast with the sweetness of the tomato and onion.

2.) And this is probably the most important step!  Serve, immediately after the okra is done!

See, so easy!  I just can't describe to you how wonderful this dish is! 

All I can say is that the saltiness, sweetness, hot and cold contrast and burst of summer flavors are addictive!

"It's Time Has Come" to enjoy this Summer recipe!

Let me know by comment if you tried this and if you liked it!

XOXOXOXO

Sandra

Vintage Hand Towel Holders

Here's a quick project with very functional and beautiful results.
I had several architectural pieces that were found when out treasure hunting.
I just love old wood, molding, wooden boxes and such....don't you?  Don't
pass them by.  They're great to keep on hand for projects such as this!

Let me tell you how to make one.
Nail a picture hanger to the back.
Then drill a hole in the front of the piece, at the spot where you would like to
mount a drawer pull or hanger.  Screw in the drawer pull or the hanger.

That's it.  Look how beautiful they are!  They can have multiple uses.
Hand towel holders.  Jewelry holders.  A hanger for scarves, or curtains...the list
goes on and on!

Don't you just love the old paint and the chippy spots on these?  I know I do!  They're like
kids, can't pick a favorite.  Just may have to keep them all!!!

Now get out there and find you an old, chippy piece and make you one, because
"It's Time Has Come" to be a Vintage Holder of your choice!

                                                        XOXOXOXO
                                                             Sandra

Some More Garden Bounty

Just loading a few pictures of some sliced tomatoes from our garden.
Isn't  this a gorgeous one?

Add, a little olive oil, salt, and pepper.  Oh my goodness, they taste like a burst of sunshine!
Isn't it a miracle what can come from a tiny seed?  Just some water, sunshine, and a bit of
tending and then you get to reap the reward!

Just wait until our okra is ready and I'll post one of the easiest and best recipe for a
wonderful summer side dish!

Now go get you some home grown tomatoes and enjoy!

                                                          XOXOXOXO
                                                                Sandra

Wonderful photographs!

Hey everyone, if  you are like me and love to look at photographs,  you must check
out this blog http://donnaboykin.com.  I'm telling you, I could spend all day looking
at all of  her stuff.  She is so talented!  You won't regret it!

                                                         XOXOXOX
                                                           Sandra

Quick and Elegant Vintage Gift

Have you ever been caught in a bind and forgotten to pick up a gift
for someone?  Or, have you just not had the money in the budget for the month
to spend on a gift?

Well, let me get you to thinking about something that you can start keeping on
hand for times like these.

When you are out treasure hunting, always check out the assorted plates, saucers,
and cups.  You can almost always find very pretty ones inexpensively, because they
probably were at one time part of a bigger set.  Yet, they can  still be repurposed  for an
elegant life once more.

I know you have probably seen this concept on Pinterest, but I would just like to point
out once again, that this can be a lifesaver as far as a beautiful, unique, one of a kind
treasure for someone special!

Below, is a picture of one that I created out of two vintage plates and a candle holder
from Hobby Lobby.  This is a great gift for friends or family that love to entertain!
All you have to do is adhesive them altogether.  See how beautiful this is?

So, look through your dishes and see if you have something on hand that you can make.
These look great on buffets because it gives you a vertical display!

"It's Time Has Come", for the orphaned china pieces to become elegant, vintage keepsakes,
again! Happy Hunting!
                                                     XOXOXOX
                                                       Sandra

1st Day of Summer

Quick and Easy Method for Freezing Fresh Corn-on-the-Cob

Happy 1st Day of Summer Everyone,

I guess you can tell by the title of this blog today what I've been doing.
My husband surprised me this afternoon with a basket full of fresh corn on the cob
from his garden.  He and his cousin have a combined garden at the farm where he
works.  They are getting a very good harvest this year due to the blessing of plenty
of rain at the right times and that they planted early this year.

So, I thought that I could teach everyone how to easily put fresh corn on the cob in
your freezer.  Believe me when I say that there is nothing better (except fresh tomatoes,
more on that later) than fresh corn on the cob in the middle of winter.  If you aren't
lucky enough to have a vegetable garden, then visit your local Farmers Market and
buy several ears.  It is worth the investment.

So let me show you how easy this is!

You will need the following items:

Large pan for boiling water.  (I use a large spaghetti pan)
Tongs
Two large bowls filled with water and ice. 
Very clean kitchen towels to drain the corn on.
Quart size or Gallon size Freezer bags depending on the size of your family.

That's it for the supply list!

Ok, lets get started.

Shuck the husk from the corn and remove as much of the silk that you can.
You can at this point break the ears in half if you choose.

Now get your water boiling and place several ears in the water.
Rule of thumb:
small ear- boil 7 minutes
medium ear - boil 9 minutes
large ear - boil 11 minutes

Once they have boiled the proper time, remove them from the water and transfer
directly to the ice bath to stop the cooking.  Note: (You can use the same boiling
water for up to five batches).  Next, let them sit in the ice bath the same number
of minutes that they boiled. Be sure that each batch of corn has plenty of ice in the
baths.  I always add ice back to the bowls after each cycle of boiled corn.

Once they have chilled the proper time, remove them from the ice bath and place
them on clean kitchen towels to drain.  It is important to let them dry somewhat
before putting them in the storage bags. This cuts down on the risk of freezer burn.

Once they have dried, place them into storage bags. Remove as much air as possible
before closing the bag.

Now when you are ready for some fresh corn on the cob, just grab a bag from your
freezer.  You can microwave them for 2 - 3 minutes each or boil them on the stove top 4
- 5 minutes.  Really you are just heating them up because you have already cooked them.

I am thinking that in the dead of winter, when I grab a bag to heat up that "It's
Time Has Come" to remind me of how beautiful our changing seasons are and how
each season brings something wonderful to our lives!  It sure is nice though to be able
to grab a season back from time to time!

Let me know if you try this!  You won't regret it!!

...and here is a tease of an upcoming post:  Home Grown Tomatoes!!!

XOXOXOXO

Sandra